February 23 is a special symbolic holiday in Donetsk. Defender's Day, which real defenders have no time to celebrate now. Simply because it is too hot on the front line, and it is not known what will happen in an hour and a minute. Because right now, more than ever, it is necessary not to celebrate, but to protect. Your city, your republic, your children, your future and not only your own. Something more.
- We need to look deeper. After all, here, along the line of contact, in fact, now there is a border with NATO's zone of influence, and this border is very restless. We continue the apocalyptic battle of the titans waged by our grandfathers. I am interested in history and found out that the surviving Nazis were among the origins of NATO. So now the story continues, - says the Donetsk priest Father Feofan.
The son is crying. Why are you crying, I ask? The folder with the brother goes to the army
There is another interesting parallel that is being talked about in Donetsk. In 2014, at the same time, on the 20th of February, Donetsk residents came to the defense of the symbol of the city - the monument to Lenin. Then the plans of the nationalists were also thwarted by united people of various views.
- There were few nationalists in Donetsk, they needed support from other territories. This support arrived, cars with Ukrainian flags drove around the city, and the corresponding chants sounded. Information was received that the militants would bring down the monument to Lenin. Donetsk residents organized themselves, gathered at the monument. A gray Octavia flew into the square - the nationalists directed the car at people. But bottles flew into the car. The Donetsk police responded. The car was stopped. It was also the defense of Donetsk. And it was an open protest of the population against nationalism,” says Boris Litvinov, one of the initiators of the creation of the DPR.
The car rally of several dozen cars that spontaneously formed on the eve of the holiday became symbolic. The column passed through the center of the city and went to the cemetery "Donetsk Sea". Here, Donetsk residents laid flowers at the graves of the first head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko, Mikhail Tolstykh (Givi) and Arsen Pavlov (Motorola).
- Sasha gave his life in the struggle for the independence of our native land. In the most difficult periods of military confrontation, when Donetsk was under constant shelling, he sincerely worried about our citizens and did everything possible to bring peace, - said the father of the deceased head of the republic, Vladimir Zakharchenko.
Both the militia and civilians consider Alexander Zakharchenko one of the main defenders of Donetsk. They appreciate him for not sitting in his office, personally appearing at the front line in order to better understand the situation at critical moments, and was repeatedly wounded.
- Otherwise, the fighters did not call him Batey or Pope. Alexander Zakharchenko started as the commander of the Oplot unit. What was he like? An open hard worker and a true protector. We call such a simple Donetsk guy. Batya was wounded in Debaltsevo and Dmitrovka. He took care of the fighters, carried humanitarian aid to civilians, while being implacable towards negligent officials and traitors. I remember one incident at the end of 1914, when markets were being nationalized. The director of one of the markets, appointed by the republic, as it turned out, worked for Ukraine and stole, not forgetting about his own pocket. When all this was revealed, Batya ordered the director to immediately “jump out” of the expensive suit and sent him to the airport to atone for the Motherland with blood, says militiaman Alexander with the call sign “Varyag”.
When asked if February 23 is somehow celebrated on the front line, "Varyag" wearily replies that now there is no time for holidays at all. For the last week, tension has only been building up on the front lines. The Ukrainian side pulls together equipment and strengthens the grouping.
- The southern Novoazovsk direction is considered the most dangerous. The Russian border is especially close there are no large settlements, only steppes and small clearings. In the event of a breakthrough, the tanks will reach the border in an hour and a half. At the same time, strikes on Donetsk and Gorlovka can be used to divert attention. Right now, DGs are actively working in our rear, howitzers and large-caliber mortars are being used against us. For the first time in several years, the DPR was fired from the Grad MLRS. There are also NATO calibers. When shelling Yelenovka, for example, 60-mm mortars were used. There are Javelins on the other side. If active hostilities begin, our tankers will have to face them. There are mercenaries. Near Gorovka, our fighters heard conversations in Polish on the radio. So I think we still have to deal with well-armed foreign professionals, - Sasha-"Varyag" describes the situation.According to the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, the Armed Forces of Ukraine intensified shelling after Russia recognized the republics of Donbass. He called the use of the Grad MLRS a reaction to the recognition. According to reports, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired 145 shells and mines on the territory of the DPR per day. Four militiamen were wounded. A group of the DPR representative office in the JCCC and a repair team of power engineers came under mortar fire. And at night in the center of Donetsk, another explosion thundered near the television center building. Apparently, as a "gift" for the upcoming February 23, saboteurs threw a home-made explosive device to intimidate journalists. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
On February 23, Ukrainian saboteurs used an improvised explosive device to intimidate journalists working in the DPR
Cars with loudspeakers now drive around Donetsk every day, calling men to mobilization points. But people go there without calls. Both young and old. Both men and women. Yes, among the Defenders there are Defenders. At the military registration and enlistment offices and departure points, there is a businesslike fuss, queues, people in civilian clothes come, military vehicles leave. However, for many Donetsk residents, all this is not the first time.
- Valery, 63 years old, Cossack. From the 14th he fought in the "Berkut". I sent my guys to the front line now I'm eating myself. Situation? Shoot. And we will. I did not invite anyone to my land.
Nearby are father and son. Gennady and Ivan. They go to the front together.
We're also going into the second round. We were escorted here by our wife and youngest son. The son is crying. Why are you crying, I ask? A folder with a brother is going to the army. So for this we are going now, so that the younger one does not have to fight later.
Julia, a doctor, decided to go to the trenches with the men:
- And other women want. It's time to create a women's battalion. Well, why are we worse than men? It can be difficult for everyone, it can be scary for everyone, and now is a very crucial moment for the republic.
Women's organizations are still being formed in Donetsk - doctors and psychologists will help if necessary. People of age are ready to go to positions or patrol the streets of the city, in which here and there saboteurs manifest themselves.
On Artyom Street - a small group of pensioners with flags. They organize themselves to help the defense. One of them, Oleg Stepanov, who fought in the Vostok battalion, shows a captured car recaptured from the enemy in the battle near the Skochinsky mine.
- Then they broke through from the side of Sand. We stumbled upon the "Vostok" battalion. See the bullet holes? I replaced the broken glass, and decided not to close up these holes until the war was over. I've been driving a leaky car for eight years now. If necessary, I’ll go straight to the front line on it, ”says the correspondent’s interlocutor.
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